When we use “do” and “make” with noun phrases, “do” usually means performing an action in general whereas “make” emphasizes more the product or outcome of an action.
Expressions with "do"
• An exam / a test / a course à I’m doing my driving test tomorrow.
• Exercise à I go for a run and do exercise every day.
• (Someone) a favour à Martin, could you do me a favour?
• Homework à The students hardly every do their homework.
• The military service à It’s obligatory to do the military service in Isarel.
• Housework and chores (including dishes (washing-up), shopping, ironing, cooking, laundry, cleaning, gardening, etc). We say “do the shopping”, “do the ironing”, “do the dishes…”
• Do well / do badly / do your best à I think I did really well in the exam.
• Non-specific activities (do anything / do something / do nothing / do everything / do much )
Expressions with "make"
• Appointments / arrangements / plans / decisions / à You need to make a decision today.
• An attempt / an effort à You have to make an effort to get to the top.
• (The) bed à Zoe always does her bed in the morning. • A cake, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a cup of coffee…
• An excuse à Don’t make any excuses, you have to finish this today!
• A film (but not make a photo/picture à take a photo/picture)
• A list à Have you made a shopping list? • Love à My neighbours are very noisy when they make love.
• A mistake à I’m sorry, I made a mistake.
• Money (=earn) à My mother is a banker and she makes a lot of money.
• A noise à Don’t make a noise. You’re going to wake up the baby.
• An offer à My boss made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
• A phone call à I need to make a phone call before I go out.
• A profit à The company is making a lot of profit.
• A suggestion à Let me make a suggestion, get a haircut!
• Trouble à These boys are always making trouble!
